Connecter



Sept 7, 1937. R. GELLER 2,092,372

CONNECTER original Filed April 29, 1933 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Sept 7 1937- R. A. GOELLER 2,092,372

CONNECTER original Filed April 29, 1953 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR I Hoerf @0e/Ier BY l Patented Sept. 7, 1937 PATENT oFF'lcl;

CONNECTER Robert A. Goeller, Larchmont, N. Y.

Application April '29, 1933, seal No. ,668,437

Renewed January 21, 1937 17 Claims. (Cl. 173-263) adapted by a similar clamping means to be forced l into and heldin rm engagement with two or more conductors, thereby forming a direct electrical connection therebetween.

Among the objects and advantages of my invention are, to provide a device of this character which is composed of but few parts all of which are simple in construction and are economical to manufacture and ,to provide a device of thisl character which is'strong and durable in use and which may be readily applied to and'removed from the conductors. l

Other objects of my invention will appear from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a topv plan view of one embodiment of my improved connecting device, this device being'shownas forming an electrical connection between two cables.

ligurel 2 is a perspective view of the parts of the structure shown in Figure 1; these parts being separated solnewhat and partly broken away so as to illustrate more clearly their construction and the manner in which they are assembled.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on theline 3--3 of Figure 1 with the clamping bolt and nut shown in elevation.

Figure 4. is a view similar to Figure 2 but showying the bolt partly removed and the clamping yoke membersf withdrawn from one another a short distance.- Figure 5 is atop plan view of a modied connecting means.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the structure shown in Figure 5, the parts being separated as in Figure 2; y i Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a perspective View of a modified construction wherein means is provided for the permanent attachment of one conductor to the body member; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a still further modified construction wherein a single yoke is provided with two or more clamping jaws and the body member has two or more operating jaws, both located at one side thereof.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to`4, A and B represent clamping yoke-shaped jaw members adapted fer interfitting association as shown, for example, in Figure 3 and adapted to Iembrace and hold between them a body mem 10 ber C.

The body member C' is formed at opposite sides with recesses or jaws IIL, I0 of v approximately semicylindrical section between which respec tively and corresponding recesses II, II formed 15 inside the bends of the yoke members A, B,'the conductors I3 and L4 are clamped. .The inner walls of the recesses or jaws Il) and II may if desired be transversely serrated so as to bite into the metal of the cable when the yoke members A 20 and B move toward one another.

Yoke A is formed with at side portions I5-I 6 each of which is formed with a tapered opening I1 and the yoke B has side portions or projections I9-20 which are formed with tapered open- 25 ings 2|. In the form of invention shown the side portions |9-20 are spaced apart a less distance than the side portions I5-I6 and in the assembled positions of the parts, as, shown in Figure 3, the side portions I9-20 lie inside the portions.'30 I5.I6. Openings 2| have the same angle, of' taperas the openings I1 and have a larger diameter equal to the smaller diameter of ofenings I1.

The body portion C is formed with a central 35 opening 24 which, while not essential, is shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4 to have outwardly tapering ends 25.

Adapted to" extend through the openings I1, 2|, and 24 is a bolt 21 having a tapered head 28 and a 40 straight screw-threaded shank 29 adapted to be engaged by a tapered nut 30. 'I'he nut is slotted from its inner end. as shown at 3l in Figure 2.

To apply the device to the conductors as shown in Figure 1, the yokes are placed over the con-l 45 ductors with the body C between them, the bolt 21 is inserted through the central openings I1, 2 I, and 24, the nut 30 is applied and tightened. The tapered faces of the nut and the bolt head engage respectively one side of the openings I1 and 50 the other side of the openings 2l, as shown for example in Figure 3, and tightening of the bolt draws the jaws I I toward one another and clamping the conductor between the jaw I I of the yoke member and the opposite jaw `III on the body 55` member, the jaw clamping tightly onto the metal of the conductor.

It will be noted that in clamping the conductors the clamping pressure is exerted against opposite sides of the bolt head and against opposite sides of the nut. The stress produced by this pressure is shearing rather than bending. It will be noted from Figure 3 which shows the parts in clamped position that the shank of the bolt as well as the tapered head and nut are free of the opening 24 and the shank is not subject to any bending stress. The body portion C may be free to accommodate two conductors I3, I4. Due to the split form of the nut 30 and its angle of taper, the friction of the nut against the walls of openings l1 and 2| is greater than the friction of thenut on the screw threads of the bolt. The result of this is that the bolt may be tightened or loosened by application of a wrench to the bolt head without the necessity of holding the nut or vice versa.

It is obvious that where it is desired to connect conductors of substantially diierent size the jaws I0, Il on one side will be made of a diierent diameter from those on the other side.

The slidable yokes A and B will usually be made of brass or some other hard alloy of copper, the bolt and nut of steel or high strength non-ferrous metal and the body portion, which forms a direct connection between the conductors, of copper or copper alloy It will be seen that parts of the device are extremely simple. The yokes and body, it will be noted, are of uniform cross section and these parts, may advantageously be made by extrusion, although, if desired, they may be cast and machined to dimension.

While I have shown yokes A and B of somewhat diiferent form due to the different spacing of the side projections, it will be understood that both members, if desired, may be of the same form and identical constructions. In this case each member would have one side or projection having the large opening Il and other side which would be located nearer to the jaw Ill, would have the small opening 2|.

'I'he preferrred embodiment of my invention shown inFigures to 7 has the advantage that the intermediate body member which forms the direct connection between the conductors, may be independently connected to and disconnected from each conductor. In this embodiment, the yokes 40 and 4I are arranged side by side and cooperate at different points along the length of the body member 42. The body 42 is formed at opposite sides with channels or recesses 44, 45 forming parallel jaws adapted to cooperate respectively with the bent portions of the yokes to hold two conductors 46 and 41. From the sides of each of the yoke members extend inwardly tapering openings 48 and the body 44 is formed with two central openings 50 extending therethrough and each comprising an inner straight portion 5l and outer tapering portions 52. In the clamped position Vof the bolt 54 the shank 55 is free of the sides ofthe straight portion 5| of the opening in the body while the tapered head 54 of the bolt and tapered split nut 56 bear against the inclined walls of the tapered openings 48 and tapered portion 52 of the opening in the body.

In the operation of securing the conductor, bar. pipe or other object to b e held, tightening of a bolt draws the yoke and body member into ilrm contact with the conductor and in this manner one conductor can be attached to the yoke and body independently of the other conductor. At the same time when both conductors are attached the body member forms a solid direct connection between the conductors. By placing the yokes at opposite sides of the body member the two parallel conductors may be placed very close to one another, the metal of the conductors being separated merely by the width of the body which forms a direct connection between them.

It will be noted that in the clamped position of the conductor, the tapered bolt head and nut are not fully seated in the tapered openings but bear at one side on the inclined walls of openings in the yoke and at the opposite side on the inclined portions of the opening in the body. The shank of the bolt, as may be seen from Figure 7, is free of the wall of the opening in the body and the forces exerted by the yoke and body on the head and nut are shearing rather than bending.

It is obvious by forming the body with a clamping jaw at one side and also with a jaw at one end the device may be employed for forming a T connection between two conductors. In this case, the two yokes instead of being parallel as in Figure 5, will be positioned at right angles to one another. Also a body may be employed which is formed with a number of clamping sides arranged at any desired angle, thus permitting the connecting of conductors or bars which approach one another at any angle. Also if desired, a Asingle yoke member may be employed to clamp the plurality of conductors to a body member, thus forming electrical connections between the several conductors. In such construction the inside of the yoke would ordinarily be formed with a plurality of transverse channels, each of which forms a jaw, and which are adapted respectively to cgi-operate with similar jaws on the body member. Such a construction, for example, is shown in section in Figure 9.

While in the forms of my invention illustrated the body member is removably secured by the yoke members to a plurality of conductors, it is obvious that the body member or the yoke member may be adapted for a more or less permanent attachment to one orl more of the conductors. As an example of such construction, the body member, of a form shown on Figure 8, is provided with a terminal lug or ange SD, and this extension provided with the usual openings 6I for the reception of conductors which may be soldered or otherwise permanently secured to the While my invention has certain distinctive advantages as applied to the coupling together of electrical conductors, it will be clear that features of my invention may be applied to the coupling of pipes or structural units, such as rods, bars and the like.

Having now' described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a. connecter, two members slidable with respect to one another, each having a clamping jaw, an intermediate member having clamping iaws at different sides adapted respectively to cooperate with said first named jaws to clamp two conductors with the intermediate member K forming a direct connection between said conductors, means for forcing the jaw of one of the slidable members towards its cooperating jaw on the intermediate member to clamp one of the conductors, said other slidable member embracing said intermediate member, and said other .slidable member and said intermediate member each being formed with aligned openings extending laterally of the line of movement and said openings beingtapered inwardly from opposite ends and a plurality of wedge means. extending through said openings and adapted to force the jaw of said other slidable member and its cooperating jaw on the intermediate member towards one another.

2. In a connecter, two members slidable with respect to one another, each having a clamping jaw, an intermediate member having clamping l jaws at different sides adapted respectively to cooperate with said first named jaws to clamp two, conductors with the intermediate member forming a direct connection between said conductors, means for forcing the jaw of one of the slidable members towards its cooperating jaw on the intermediate member to clamp one of the con.- ductors, saidother slidable member embracing said intermediate member, and said other slidable member and said intermediate member each being formed with aligned openings extending laterally of the line of movement and said openings being tapered inwardly irom opposite ends and a plurality of screw wedge means extending through said openings and adapted to force the jaw `of said other slidable nember and its cooperating jaw on the intermediate member, to-

wards one another.

3. In a connecter, two members slidable with respect to one another, each having a clamping jaw, an intermediate member having clamping jaws on different sides adapted respectively to cooperate with said rst named jaws to clamp two 35 conductors with said intermediate member forming ya direct connection between said conductors, said slidable and intermediate members being formed with circular openings extending laterally of the path of movement of said slidable members, the openings in the slidable members being abruptly tapered and a screw bolt extending through said openings and having a tapered nut engaging the sides of' said tapered'openings to draw said slidable members into gripping contact 45 with said conductors. f/ i 4. The combination-of a plurality of members slidable with respect to one anothenone of said. members being a yoke and having a plurality of transverse inner channels forming clamping jaws, and another of said members having a plurality of channels adapted respectively to cooperate with sai'd first named channels to clamp an object between them, the yoke having aligned openings tapered inwardly from opposite ends and the other of said members having an opening in alignment with said rst named openings and tapered inwardly from opposite endsand screw wedge means, positioned in said openings and adapted to move the body and yoke member relative to one another into clamping position.

5. In a connecter, two members slidable with respect to one another, each having a clamping jaw, an intermediate member having clamping jaws on different sides adapted respectively to cooperate with said rst named jaws to clamp two conductors with said intermediate member forming a direct connection between said conductors, said slidable and intermediate members being formed with circular openings extending laterally, of the path of movement of said slidable members, the openings in the slidable members being abruptly tapered and a screw bolt extending through said'openings and having a 75 slit tapered nut engaging the sides of said tapered .openings to draw said 'slidable members into gripping contact with said conductors.

6. In a connecter, two members slidable with respect to one another, each having a clamping jaw, an intermediate member having clamping jaws on di'erent sides adapted respectively to cooperate with said rst named jaws to clamp two conductors with said intermediate member forming a direct connection between said conducboth conductors.

7. In a connecter, two members slidable with respect to one another, each having a clamping jaw, an .intermediate member having clamping jaws' on different sides and adapted respectively to cooperate with said rst named jaws to clamp two conductors with said intermediate member forming a direct connection between said conductors, at least one oi said members being formed as a yoke to embrace a second of said members and having inwardly tapered openings extending through the sides of the yoke, and said second member being formed with a tapered opening, a bolt formed with a tapered'head and having a tapered nut, extending into said openings, said head and nut/engaging the sides of said openings to draw said yoke member and said second member into gripping engagement with the conductor, and means for clamping a conductor between one of said last named members and the remaining member.

8. In an electrical connecter, `a body member formed with clamping jaws at opposite sides, a pair of adjacent yoke members embracing said body member respectively from opposite sides and each adapted to clamp a conductombetween a jaw and the bend of the yoke, and wedge means extending through said yokes and body member and adapted to move said yokes into clamping engagement. i 9. In an electrical connecter, a body member formed with clamping jaws at opposite sides, a pair of yoke members embracing said body member from opposite sides, said yoke members having projections which inte't with one another and with said body member, and each yoke member being adapted to clamp a conductor between a jaw and the bend of the yoke and wedge means extending through said projections and through said body member for moving the yokes into. clamping engagement, said wedge means engaging at one side one of said yoke members and at the other side the other yoke member.

l0. In an electrical connecter, a body member formed with clamping jaws at opposite sides, a pair of yoke members embracing said body member from opposite sides, said yoke members having projections which intert with one another and with said body member, and each yoke member being adapted to clamp a. conductor between a jaw and the bend of the yoke and wedgemeans extending through said projections and body member f or moving the yokes into. clamping engagement.

11. In an electrical connecter, a body member formed with clamping jaws at opposite sides, a pair of adjacent yoke members embracing said body member respectively from opposite sides and each adapted to clamp a conductor between a jaw and the bend of the yoke, the sides of said yokes and said body member being `formed with inwardly tapering openings and bolts having tapered heads and tapered nuts adapted to engage the walls o1' said openings to draw said yokes into clamping engagement with said conductors, the shanks of said bolts being substantially free of the walls of said openings. 12. In a connecter, two members slidable with respect to one another, each having a clamping jaw, an intermediate member having clamping jawson different sides adapted respectively to cooperate with said first named jaws to clamp two conductors with said intermediate member forming a direct connection between said conductors, said slidable and intermediate members being formed with circular openings extending laterally of the path of sliding movement of said rst named members, the openings in the slidable members being abruptly tapered at opposite ends, a screw bolt extending through said openings, said bolt having a tapered head and a tapered nut, engaging sides of said tapered openings to draw said slidable members into gripping contact with said conductors.

13. In a connecter, two members slidable with respect to one another, each having a clamping jaw, an intermediate member having parallel clamping jaws on opposite sides adapted respectively to cooperate with said first named jaws to clamp'two conductors' with said intermediate member forming a direct. connection between said conductors, said slidable and intermediate members being formed with circular openings extending laterally of the path of sliding movement of said rst named members, the openings in the slidable members being abruptly tapered at opposite ends, a screw bolt extending through said openings, said bolt having a tapered head and a tapered nut, engaging sides of said tapered openings to draw said slidable members into gripping contact with said conductors.

14. In a connecter, two members slidable with respect to one another, each having a clamping jaw, an intermediate member having clamping jaws adapted respectively to cooperate with said first named jaws to clamp two conductors with said intermediate member forming a direct connection between the conductors, at least one of said members being formed as a yoke to embrace a second of said members and having inwardly tapering openings extending through the sides of the yoke and said second member being formed with a tapered opening, a bolt formed with a tapered head and having a tapered nut, extending into said openings, said head and nut engaging the sides of said openings to draw said yoke member and said second member into gripping engagement with the conductor and means for clamping a. conductor between one of said last named members andthe remaining member.

15. In an electrical conductor, a body member formed with clamping jaws at different sides, a plurality of adjacent yoke members embracing said body member respectively from said sides and each adapted to clamp a conductor between a jaw and the bend of the yoke, and screwrwedge means extending through said yokes and body member and adapted to move said yokes into clamping engagement.

16. In an electrical conductor, a body member formed with clamping jaws at different sides, a plurality ofA adjacent yoke members embracing said body member respectively from said sides, and each adapted to clamp a conductor between a jaw and the bend of a yoke, said body and yoke members being formed with tapered circular openings extending laterally of the path of the clamping movement of the yoke and body members and a screw wedge extending through said openings and engaging the sides of the tapered openings to draw the members into contact with the conductors.

17. In a connecter, a plurality of members slidable with respect to one another and each having a clamping jaw, an intermediate member having a plurality of clamping jaws adapted to cooperate. respectively with said rst named jaws to clamp a plurality of conductors, with said intermediate member forming a direct connection between said conductors, said slidable and intermediate members being formed with circular tapered openings extending laterally of the path of clamping movement of said slidable members, and tapered screw means extending through said openings and engaging the sides of said tapered openings to draw said slidable members into gripping contact with said conductors.

ROBERT A. GOELLER. 

